Review: Nicholas Clifford’s ‘One More Shot’
“‘One More Shot’ is entertaining yet forgettable.”
‘People We Meet on Vacation’ Review: The Weight of Weirdness
“‘People We Meet on Vacation’ might just mark the beginning of a new golden age for romantic comedies, at least if sub-genre filmmakers can finally move past stale screenwriting tropes.”
‘Zodiac Killer Project’ Review: An Intellectual Slide to Sensationalism
“In ‘Zodiac Killer Project,’ Shackleton finds clarity via cinema by stripping the true crime phenomenon down to its core essentials, ugly as they may be.”
‘The Man in the White Van’ Review: Madison Wolfe Shines in Average PG-13 Thriller
“Like so many average thrillers, ‘The Man in the White Van’ commits more to narrative structure than a singular message that will keep audiences thinking after the fact.”
Review: Josh Appignanesi’s ‘Colossal Wreck’
“Based on the novelistic nature of ‘Colossal Wreck,’ with all its rich philosophical meditations about ego and personal connections, Appignanesi’s growing filmography seems to be a cinematic vessel for meaningful change.”
Review: Ellen Rodnianski’s ‘American Baby’
“Conceptually, ‘American Baby’ would probably be more effective as an anthology series on a streaming service, as that would allow Rodniansky to investigate social factors that affect young women and men in different parts of America.”
Review: Alan Berliner and Benita Raphan’s ‘Benita’
“‘Benita’ is more of a cinematic explainer than a rich psychological study.”
Review: Jill Campbell’s ‘Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue’
“‘Beyond the Gaze’ effectively links the past and present timelines to accentuate the subject’s commitment to her craft and models.”
Anatomy of a Scene: ‘When Comedy Went to School’ (Borscht Belt Film Fest)
“‘When Comedy Went to School’ is a must-see for not only American Jews, but also for anyone who appreciates the art of stand-up comedy.”
Borscht Belt Film Fest Review (Short): Joel Perez’s ‘Villa Encanto’
“‘Villa Encanto’ seems destined to be adapted into a feature.”
Review: Zeshaan Younus’ ‘I’ve Seen All I Need to See’
“Younus’ dialogue becomes a little flowery at times in ‘I’ve Seen All I Need to See,’ though the filmmaker stays consistent with his overall balance and spiritual themes, much like he does in ‘The Buildout.'”
Review: Kerstin Karlhuber’s ‘After All’
“Like many family films, ‘After All’ succeeds with its messaging and pushes too hard with moments of poignancy.”
Review: Piero Messina’s ‘Another End’
“There’s plenty of heart to be found within ‘Another End,’ but the clunky handling of a climactic twist sadly feels emotionally and philosophically empty.”
Review: Cosima Spender’s ‘Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe’
“As politics continue to divide people via blinding shades of blue and red, Andrea Bocelli transcends above the madness by communicating what’s in his heart.”
Review: Jimmy Warden’s ‘Borderline’
“Just like a Hollywood actor or actress who doesn’t quite know when to stop performing amongst family members and friends, ‘Borderline’ is frequently annoying yet always entertaining and unpredictable.”
Review: Racheal Cain’s ‘Somnium’
“‘Somnium’ is rather predictable, as first-time feature filmmakers like Cain tend to prioritize visual design over the nuts and bolts of their script.”
Review: Robert Schwartzman’s ‘Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary’
“Press play on ‘Hung Up on a Dream’ for the music, stay for the wild and interconnected industry stories that span seven decades.”
Review: Sophie Brooks’ ‘Oh, Hi!’
“‘Oh, Hi!’ positions Gordon as the next Lena Dunham, Greta Gerwig or maybe — to quote Will Ferrell’s Frank from ‘Old School’ (2003) — ‘something really cool that I don’t even know about.'”
Open Roads: New Italian Cinema Review – Francesca Comencini’s ‘The Time It Takes’
“Cinematic productions like ‘The Time It Takes’ show that theatrical movies can have a profound effect on people who want to know more about the medium and the craft of filmmaking.”
Short Film Review: Laura Checkoway’s ‘The Cat Man Eshete’
“‘The Cat Man Eshete’ is more of a psychological character study — one worthy of repeat viewings, especially for immigrants — than a traditional documentary short about trauma and redemption.”